Samsung confirms it’s trying to beat Apple to market with a smart watch

Samsung wants to get the smart watch first, and get it right.

Samsung publicly announced Tuesday its intention to develop a smart watch to compete with a similar speculated upcoming Apple product, according to Bloomberg. Samsung emphasized that it wants to be first out of the gate with the product and is pitting itself in a race against Apple to win consumer attention.

"We've been preparing the watch product for so long," Executive VP of Samsung Mobile Lee Young Hee told Bloomberg. "The issue here is who will first commercialize it so consumers can use it meaningfully."

A few screenshots from an Samsung smart watch named the Galaxy Altius leaked in February. The screenshots showed a 500×500 screen running an OS named "AltiusOS beta2," so it's not explicitly clear whether the watch would run Android or not. The watch appeared to include 235MB of internal storage space and was able to handle music, e-mail, and mapping apps.

By contrast, Apple's iWatch, which may be made of curved glass, will reportedly run a full version of iOS and will launch later this year. Apple has chosen not to scale up the iPod nano's OS, but it has apparently run into some problems getting the watch's battery to last beyond a couple of days. Ideally, it would only need to recharge every four or five days.

118 Reader Comments

At first I thought the smart watch idea was silly, but I can see using one for jogging, I think the bulky phones attached to people's arms look dumb, and I worry about breaking mine. Assuming cost isn't absurd, I'll probably bite on the Samsung one.

At first I thought the smart watch idea was silly, but I can see using one for jogging, I think the bulky phones attached to people's arms look dumb, and I worry about breaking mine. Assuming cost isn't absurd, I'll probably bite on the Samsung one.

Surely Polar or Garmin has a solution that works better, costs about the same, and has been around for a couple of years.

Brilliant strategic move on Samesung's part: let it be known that you're on to this hot new idea and pre-empt claims that you were copying the competitor when, in the end, it turns out that your product is eerily similar to your competitor's.

Brilliant strategic move on Samesung's part: let it be known that you're on to this hot new idea and pre-empt claims that you were copying the competitor when, in the end, it turns out that your product is eerily similar to your competitor's.

At first I thought the smart watch idea was silly, but I can see using one for jogging, I think the bulky phones attached to people's arms look dumb, and I worry about breaking mine. Assuming cost isn't absurd, I'll probably bite on the Samsung one.

Jogging is the first thing that comes to mind for me as well.

There were those really tiny iPod Nanos that some people put in watch bands, but it didn't have bluetooth audio, so you needed headphones plugged into your wrist.

I'm assuming Bluetooth audio is a must to make this gadget truly worthwhile.

Brilliant strategic move on Samesung's part: let it be known that you're on to this hot new idea and pre-empt claims that you were copying the competitor when, in the end, it turns out that your product is eerily similar to your competitor's.

They are BOTH way WAY too late. I have THREE Sony BlueTooth enabled wrist "watches" more like a slim android display on my wrist that shows my incoming FaceBook/Twitter/Instragram/Text/Phone Calls everything. I can controll my music player from my wrist, i can call out, play games, use the mini display on my wrist as a view finder for the camera on my phone and remotly take pics. sounds to me like Apple is very far behind in all that and Samsung will just copy what Sony has already done and there is a ton of Apps on the Play Store for them too. Sony LiveView "Smart Watch" is the way to go.

Samsung can't be accused of copying Apple of Samsung gets to market first.

People accuse Samsung of copying not because Apple got to the smartphone market first, but because Samsung will start out with "A", Apple will release "B", and then Samsung will release "b". Samsung had plenty of smartphones before the iPhone came out. The question of copying comes about because after the iPhone came out, Samsung's phones began looking much more like the iPhone.

Unless Apple's watch is going to come with some incredibly innovative, must-have, application, I really don't see the point. (Unless, as already mentioned, one jogs.)

I haven't worn a watch in years. If I need the time or date, I just glance at my phone. I really don't see the allure of streaming content to a wristwatch -when you can just gleam it from the phone in the first place. Will just have to wait and see, I guess.

I assume if its integrated to work with the smartphones, someone who already buys into Samsung/Android will buy their version of the watch, and those who are in the Apple/iOS ecosystem will buy their version of it.

It doesn't really sound like either a stand alone or conversion type device to me.

I could be wrong though. It's been known to happen.

Edit: Clarification - I know I am kind of taking a stance but I am curious if anyone who subscribes to one manufacturer/OS would consider a watch by the other.

They are BOTH way WAY too late. I have THREE Sony BlueTooth enabled wrist "watches" more like a slim android display on my wrist that shows my incoming FaceBook/Twitter/Instragram/Text/Phone Calls everything. I can controll my music player from my wrist, i can call out, play games, use the mini display on my wrist as a view finder for the camera on my phone and remotly take pics. sounds to me like Apple is very far behind in all that and Samsung will just copy what Sony has already done and there is a ton of Apps on the Play Store for them too. Sony LiveView "Smart Watch" is the way to go.

Then Sony needs better marketing because I've never heard of that watch.

after the iPhone came out, Samsung's phones began looking much more like the iPhone.

Actually, the change was like a step function.

I'm not taking either side, just explaining. Even if Samsung gets to market first, if Apple comes in with something very different, and then Samsung follows even the teensiest little bit, then you can put good money that somebody will say Samsung is copying Apple.

Samsung can't be accused of copying Apple of Samsung gets to market first.

Seriously? So if I hear that James Cameron is making a movie about Everest, and rumors have it that Johnny Depp is attached to star, and rumors further have it that it will involve an alien spaceship hidden in the snow... and then I rush a movie to production that has Brad Pitt discovering an alien artifact under the snow of Everest... In that scenario, by your "logic", I could not be accused of copying Cameron? Seriously?

Samsung can't be accused of copying Apple of Samsung gets to market first.

Seriously? So if I hear that James Cameron is making a movie about Everest, and rumors have it that Johnny Depp is attached to star, and rumors further have it that it will involve an alien spaceship hidden in the snow... and then I rush a movie to production that has Brad Pitt discovering an alien artifact under the snow of Everest... In that scenario, by your "logic", I could not be accused of copying Cameron? Seriously?

You're missing the part where people have made movies about someone discovering aliens under snow before.Smart watches are NOT a new idea.You can't accuse Samsung of copying Apple by making a smart watch when they are BOTH copying other people by making smart watches.

It doesn't matter whether C comes before or after D when they BOTH come after A.

You know what smartphones main usage for me personally is, 100000000x more than anything else - getting a daytimer and watch away from me. I love not wearing a watch and carrying my datebook EVERYWHERE with me.

I assume if its integrated to work with the smartphones, someone who already buys into Samsung/Android will buy their version of the watch, and those who are in the Apple/iOS ecosystem will buy their version of it.

Sure. But if it's compelling enough, newcomers will choose the platform they prefer, and others will switch. In that sense, being first to market matters.

However, being first to market only matters if it's actually compelling. Some real innovation will be needed to make a smartwatch a must-have item for anyone.

Why no mention of the pebble watch? I just got mine in the mail Saturday. It is a kickstarter project that was supposed to ship last September (2012) but is now finally in production. I discovered yesterday a good use. While I can change the volume of the car radio with buttons on the steering wheel I can now also change the song using the watch while the phone sits on the dashboard of my Element. The developer kit has not been released yet but should be on the way soon. The popularity of this project is likely what got Apple and Samsung really moving on this but I don't doubt both had research plans on a shelf a decade old.

They are BOTH way WAY too late. I have THREE Sony BlueTooth enabled wrist "watches" more like a slim android display on my wrist that shows my incoming FaceBook/Twitter/Instragram/Text/Phone Calls everything. I can controll my music player from my wrist, i can call out, play games, use the mini display on my wrist as a view finder for the camera on my phone and remotly take pics. sounds to me like Apple is very far behind in all that and Samsung will just copy what Sony has already done and there is a ton of Apps on the Play Store for them too. Sony LiveView "Smart Watch" is the way to go.

Then Sony needs better marketing because I've never heard of that watch.

This.

[edit] I just went and googled Sony's smart watch. Its kind of awesome and the fact that I've never heard of it either speaks volumes for their marketing. I probably would have bought one at some point.

Unless Apple's watch is going to come with some incredibly innovative, must-have, application, I really don't see the point. (Unless, as already mentioned, one jogs.)

I haven't worn a watch in years. If I need the time or date, I just glance at my phone. I really don't see the allure of streaming content to a wristwatch -when you can just gleam it from the phone in the first place. Will just have to wait and see, I guess.

Well, the rumors of the Apple watch include heart rate, respiration, O2, and combination accelerometer data collection/monitoring - something like this: http://amiigo.co/. The Amiigo, using two receivers, is capable of being able to discern a situp from a crunch - so the new apple watch could be like the FitBit on crack, tracking everything.

No fucking chance. I love my s3, the hardware is impressive but this requires getting the use case and software right and every piece of Samsung software sucks.

Kies? You think iTunes is bad? Svoice? Completely useless. The same holds true for pretty much any s_app on the phone.

The only awesome thing is the tool that checks the picture for eyes before switching off the screen. Everything else sucks. Samsung is simply a hardware company without Google they wouldn't have a chance.

They are BOTH way WAY too late. I have THREE Sony BlueTooth enabled wrist "watches" more like a slim android display on my wrist that shows my incoming FaceBook/Twitter/Instragram/Text/Phone Calls everything. I can controll my music player from my wrist, i can call out, play games, use the mini display on my wrist as a view finder for the camera on my phone and remotly take pics. sounds to me like Apple is very far behind in all that and Samsung will just copy what Sony has already done and there is a ton of Apps on the Play Store for them too. Sony LiveView "Smart Watch" is the way to go.

Why no mention of the pebble watch? I just got mine in the mail Saturday. It is a kickstarter project that was supposed to ship last September (2012) but is now finally in production. I discovered yesterday a good use. While I can change the volume of the car radio with buttons on the steering wheel I can now also change the song using the watch while the phone sits on the dashboard of my Element. The developer kit has not been released yet but should be on the way soon. The popularity of this project is likely what got Apple and Samsung really moving on this but I don't doubt both had research plans on a shelf a decade old.

Hm, that's kind of cool looking. Still a little too techy looking for me, but maybe they'll eventually ship it with an appearance that at least sort of looks like jewelry.

It says 7 days runtime, but somehow I wonder if that's 7 days with no backlight use and bluetooth off.

It's part of Apple's new business plan...Leak rumors of stupid products and watch Samsung to waste money and development time getting to market first.

Did you read the article, the part where Samsungs Smartwatch plans leaked before Apple's iWatch?

And others have already pointed out - Motorola, Sony, Pebble and more already have this "stupid product" out in the market..

I'm hoping both Samsung and Apple bring more options to the smartwatch market (specifically with fitness options) by the middle of spring when I'm looking to pick one up for running/golfing/hiking (waterproof for kayaking too?)..

Samsung can't be accused of copying Apple of Samsung gets to market first.

Seriously? So if I hear that James Cameron is making a movie about Everest, and rumors have it that Johnny Depp is attached to star, and rumors further have it that it will involve an alien spaceship hidden in the snow... and then I rush a movie to production that has Brad Pitt discovering an alien artifact under the snow of Everest... In that scenario, by your "logic", I could not be accused of copying Cameron? Seriously?

Yes, seriously this type thing happens fairly frequently. To keep your movie example this weekend "Olympus has Fallen" will be released its a Die Hard like action movie starring Gerald Butler where the Whitehouse is taken over by terrorists and one rogue agent is the only person capable of saving the President of the US.

Later this year "White House Down" will be released its directed by Roland Emmerich and stars Channing Tatum as a rogue agent who is the only person capable of saving the president of the US after the Whitehouse is taken over by terrorists. Both movies were written before they were announced but because they were so similar there was a publicly announced race to get their movie released first.

Its worse in technology. They can't just pull technology out of the hat. There is only so much you can do with what is available. Smart watches have been around for awhile. They have rarely caught on because they were too expensive or the battery didn't last long enough or they didn't offer the functionality people expect from a smart watch.

There are things a rational person can glean from this. That companies have been working on smart watches for while. That based on other consumer electronics and the way we use watches a great hybrid has not been made yet. It remains to be seen but if these 2 companies are about to release one or are currently working on one that means that silicon has shrunk to be more powerful and more power efficient to the point where you can have a computer on a watch.

Whats the battery life of Google glass? Isn't glass a bit big to wear on your wrist without being bulky?

Edited some of my grammar spaced out paragraphs so its easier to read.

You can't accuse Samsung of copying Apple by making a smart watch when they are BOTH copying other people by making smart watches.

Well, yes, we can. Just because other similar products already exist doesn't invalidate the possibility and speculation that Samsung is targeting Apple specifically. I doubt Samsung considers any of those other manufacturers as serious competition.

They are BOTH way WAY too late. I have THREE Sony BlueTooth enabled wrist "watches" more like a slim android display on my wrist that shows my incoming FaceBook/Twitter/Instragram/Text/Phone Calls everything. I can controll my music player from my wrist, i can call out, play games, use the mini display on my wrist as a view finder for the camera on my phone and remotly take pics. sounds to me like Apple is very far behind in all that and Samsung will just copy what Sony has already done and there is a ton of Apps on the Play Store for them too. Sony LiveView "Smart Watch" is the way to go.

So, this would be the second time in recent memory that Sony was actually first to the ballgame, but loses out (possibly in this case) due to a lack of marketing?

And yes, I'm referring to the phone design that Sony touted that Mr. Jobs stole ideas from (hey, this is the guy who admitted to stealing ideas..... his words, not mine).

Why no mention of the pebble watch? I just got mine in the mail Saturday. It is a kickstarter project that was supposed to ship last September (2012) but is now finally in production. I discovered yesterday a good use.